REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURAL EXPERI- 

 MENTS IN PROGRESS UNDER DIRECTION 

 OF EXTENSION DEPARTMENT. 



To the Director of the Cornell University Agrimdtural Experi- 

 ment Station : 



Sir. — -Til prosecuting the correspondence courses in agriculture I 

 have found it desirable to continue as collateral work the illustra- 

 tive experiments instituted by yourself and the Professor of Horti- 

 cultare. These experiments are carried on cooperatively by the 

 College and the farmer under the State " I^ixon appropruition." 

 They form points of contact and create bonds of sympathy between 

 the farmer and the scientific investigator and as such are of great 

 value in extending the influence of the University and Experiment 

 Station. 



The investigations in progress this year follow six lines. 



1. Renovation of apple orchards. 



2. Trial of orchard cover crops. 



3. Spraying of fruit trees when in blossom. 

 •i. The cabbage industry. 



5. Garden beans. 



6. Musk melons in Western [N^ew York. 



1. The experience of the past five years demonstrates that the 

 well cared for apple orchard is valuable property in the greater part 

 of Xew York State. Many orchards have been neglected and have 

 become unproductive. Will it pay to invest money in renovating 

 them ? In the majority of cases, yes. Tillage, fertilizers, spraying 

 and pruning will usually restore them to a revenue producing basis 

 in from three to five years. Experiments corroborating this state- 

 ment are in progi*ess. 



2. Fruit-growlers are constantly urged to use cover crops in their 

 orchards for the purpose of maintaining fertility. What best kinds 



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